Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | João Félix Sequeira |
| Nickname | Menino de Ouro, Hurricane Felix, The Beast, The Quality Guy |
| Profession | Footballer |
| Club | Al-Nassr |
Physical Stats & More | |
| Height (approx.) | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Weight (approx.) | 70 kg (154 lbs) |
| Hair Colour | Dark Brown |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Preferred Foot | Right |
Football Career | |
| Youth Career | Early Local Club • Os Pestinhas (Viseu) – João began playing at age 7 (2007), showing early flair on school and street pitches. • FC Porto Academy – Joined aged 8 (2008), commuting ~150 miles weekly from Viseu. Left in 2014 due to limited game time and physical concerns. [!] • Padroense FC (loan) – Spent 2014–15 on loan at Padroense FC, commonly used by Porto to house its U‑15/U‑17 players. This served as transition before moving on. • Benfica Youth Academy – Moved to SL Benfica youth in 2015 (age 15). Benefited from intense youth methodology, including futsal and cage football training at Seixal. Joined U‑19 UEFA Youth League side that reached final in 2017. [!] Notable Coaching Influence • Father (Carlos Félix): physical education teacher who supported early decisions, discouraged quitting during difficult years. [!] • Benfica coach João Tralhão: fast-tracked Félix, praising his decision-making and maturity at U19 Youth League. |
| Senior Club Debut | When & Where • Made his professional debut for Benfica B in LigaPro on 17 September 2016, coming on as an 83rd-minute substitute for Aurélio Buta in a 0‑0 draw at Freamunde. He was just 16 years old. Against Which Club • Debut was against SC Freamunde, a Segunda Liga side, in a goalless away draw. Not a top-tier opponent, but significant as his first professional appearance. Age at Debut • He was 16 years and approximately 10 months old, making him the youngest player to debut for Benfica B at that time. |
Club Career Timeline | |
| Benfica B | Years ➤ 2016–2018 Transfer Details ➤ Promoted from youth; no transfer Appearances & Goals ➤ 30 apps, 7 goals (LigaPro) |
| Benfica | Years ➤ 2018–2019 Transfer Details ➤ First team promotion; no transfer fee Shirt No. ➤ #18 Appearances & Goals ➤ 26 apps, 15 goals Big Moments & Milestones Primeira Liga debut; first league goal; Europa League hat‑trick vs Eintracht Frankfurt in April 2019. |
| Atlético Madrid | Years ➤ Jul 2019–Aug 2024 Transfer Details ➤ €126 million from Benfica (€30m upfront + €96m instalments), club and Portuguese record. Lasted until 2023, with La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Europe appearances. [!] Shirt No. ➤ 7 (Griezmann’s number)  Apps & Goals (All Competitions) ➤ 96 apps, 25 goals Big Moments & Milestones • Debut 19 Aug 2019 vs Getafe; first La Liga goal 1 Sept; • Youngest Atl. CL scorer 1 Oct; • Ankle & knee injuries in Oct and Jan; • Won La Liga 2020‑21, Golden Boy 2019 |
| Chelsea (loan) | Years ➤ Jan 2023–Jun 2023 Transfer Details ➤ Loan from Atlético Madrid; Chelsea paid €11 m loan fee; no buy option. Shirt No. ➤ #11 (during his loan time)  Appearances & Goals ➤ 16 apps, 4 goals Big Moments & Milestones Brief revival under Potter; helped team mid-season but no long-term option taken. |
| Barcelona (loan) | Years ➤ Sep 2023–Jun 2024 Transfer Details ➤ Season‑long loan from Atlético Appearances & Goals ➤ 30 apps, 7 goals Big Moments & Milestones Debut goal vs Betis; Champions League debut hat‑trick (2 goals + assist) vs Antwerp; regained confidence under Xavi. |
| Chelsea (permanent) | Years ➤ Aug 2024–Feb 2025 Transfer Details ➤ €52 m base fee + €5 m add-ons; Chelsea sent Gallagher to Atlético as part of deal. [!] Appearances & Goals ➤ 12 apps, 1 goal Big Moments & Milestones Signed seven-year deal; debuted with a goal in 6–2 win vs Wolves; remained largely inconsistent. |
| AC Milan (loan) | Years ➤ Feb 2025 – Jun 2025 Transfer Details ➤ Six-month emergency loan from Chelsea; fee €5.5 m; no purchase option. Shirt No. ➤ #79 (during his 2025 loan season at AC Milan)  Appearances & Goals ➤ 15 apps, 2 goals Big Moments & Milestones Coppa Italia debut goal vs Roma in Feb; modest Serie A returns; Milan chose not to keep permanently. |
| Al‑Nassr | Years ➤ Jul 2025 – present Transfer Details ➤ Permanent transfer from Chelsea for €30 m initial + up to €20 m in add‑ons (£43.7 m total); two-year contract under Jorge Jesus. [!] Shirt No. ➤ Pending Appearances & Goals ➤ Yet to debut Big Moments & Milestones Félix expressed excitement: “I’m here to spread joy … Let’s win together.” He joins compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo at Al‑Nassr. Benfica reportedly declined lower offer.  |
Loan Spells | |
| Chelsea (loan) | Season / Year • Jan – Jun 2023 Reason for Loan • Lack of game time at Atlético Madrid. Loaned to get Premier League exposure and regular minutes. Notable Moments & Manager Comments Debut red-card incident vs Fulham, then scored vs West Ham; impressed briefly but no permanent deal triggered. |
| Barcelona (loan) | Season / Period • Aug 2023 – Jun 2024 Reason for Loan • Season-long loan to gain consistency after Chelsea spell; Atlético extended his contract to facilitate move. [!] Notable Moments & Manager Comments Scored key winner vs Atlético; featured regularly early under Xavi but later slipped to substitute role. |
| AC Milan (loan) | Season / Period • Feb – Jun 2025 Reason for Loan • Chelsea loaned him to regain form after falling out of the first team under Enzo Maresca. [!] Notable Moments & Manager Comments Scored on Coppa Italia debut; no purchase clause; loan aimed at rebuild under Conceição. |
International Career | |
| Portugal U‑18 | Years Active • Years Caps • 2 caps, 2 goals Tournament Highlights Debuted on 14 June 2017 vs Norway; came on for Elves Baldé and scored a brace in a 3–0 win. |
| Portugal U‑19 | Years Active • 2018 Caps • 2 caps, 0 goal Tournament Highlights Debut in January 2018 vs Turkey; scored in U‑21 qualification vs Liechtenstein on 23 Mar 2018; ended youth career with 14 caps / 6 goals across U‑18, 19 & U‑21. |
| Portugal Senior Team | Years Active 2019-Present Total Caps & Goals As of mid‑2025, Félix has earned 45 caps and scored approximately 9 international goals for Portugal. Debut Debuted on 5 June 2019 vs Switzerland in UEFA Nations League semi-final; came on as substitute in a 3–1 win; Portugal proceeded to win the tournament. [!]  First International Goal Scored first on 5 September 2020 in a 4–1 Nations League win home to Croatia. Major Tournaments Played • UEFA Nations League 2019 – part of title-winning squad • UEFA Euro 2020 – featured in round-of-16 (vs Belgium) • FIFA World Cup 2022 – scored vs Ghana; 2 assists vs Switzerland; exited at QF • UEFA Euro 2024 – featured; missed penalty in QF vs France Notable Goals • vs Ghana in World Cup 2022 group stage 3–2 win. [!] • Closer vs Luxembourg in Euro 2024 qualifiers 9–0 • Goals vs Andorra, Croatia, Bosnia, Slovenia in qualifiers & friendlies. |
Major Achievements at Club Level | |
| Club Trophies | Benfica • Primeira Liga Champion (2018–19) — key breakthrough season in which he scored 15 goals in all competitions and helped secure the title. Atlético Madrid • La Liga Champion (2020–21) under Diego Simeone. [!] Chelsea • UEFA Conference League Winner (2024–25) [!] |
| Individual Honours | • Golden Boy Award 2019: Awarded to Europe’s best under‑21 player, ahead of Sancho & Havertz. [!] • UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season (2018–19): Named after standout performances & hat-trick for Benfica in Europa League. [!] • Primeira Liga Best Young Player of the Year (2018–19): Recognized for breakthrough season (15 goals in 43 apps) with Benfica. [!] • CNID Best Revelation Footballer of the Year (2019): Awarded by Portuguese sports journalists’ association. • Globe Soccer Awards – Best Newcomer (Portugal 2019): Awarded during Portuguese Golden Globes ceremony. • A Bola Player of the Year (2019): Voted by readers of leading Portuguese sports newspaper A Bola. [!] • La Liga Player of the Month: Earned for decisive league performances in Spanish top flight, Nov 2020 & Mar 2022. [!] • Atlético Madrid Player of the Year: Voted by club fans after season featuring 15 goals in 55 appearances in 2021–22. [!] • La Liga Goal of the Month: Awarded for an outstanding strike in season match in April 2024. [!] |
| Club Level Honors/Records | – Became youngest player to score a Europa League hat‑trick, netting three goals vs Eintracht Frankfurt at 19 yrs, 152 days. [!] – Atlético Madrid’s Player of the Year 2021‑22, voted by fans. |
Quotes from Coaches & Influences | |
| Diego Simeone (Atlético Madrid Coach) | “João Félix gave us what he could, he couldn’t give more. When you don’t understand the culture where you are, it’s very difficult to coexist…” [!] |
| Diego Simeone | “Without desire, talent is not enough… João is a very important player for our team and he will surely do very well…” [!] |
| Roberto Martínez (Portugal coach) | “Barcelona have given Félix another dimension… Felix feels important at his club.” (On his revival during loan at Barça) [!] |
Playing Style & Role | |
| Position & Primary Role | Primary Position – Best deployed as a second striker / No. 10 behind a main forward, combining creativity and goal threat. João himself confirms: “My best position is as the second forward… playing like a No 10, with a guy in front of me.” [!] – Also used occasionally as a winger or false nine, often drifting into half-spaces. Tactical Function – Flows between roles: drops into midfield (deep No. 8), roams the left-half space to receive or drift centrally. – Used as a false nine in systems without a traditional striker—especially at Barcelona and Barcelona-style systems. Style of Play – Highly technical and creative: excels at dribbling, maneuvering in tight spaces, threading through balls, and quick combinations. Strong vision and ball control. – Effective in counter building: initiates transitions with smart carries and incisive passing. Positional Versatility – Regularly overlaps in roles: capable on wings, as central creative force, or playing off a striker. – Especially effective in left-half-space zone and deep-8 zone for creative orchestration. Limitations – Slight build limits physical duels; sometimes lacks stamina pressing full-match tempo seen in Simeone’s style. – Inconsistent positioning or decision-making has affected form under rigid defensive systems. |
| Tactical Behavior | Positioning João Félix often occupies the left half-space or deep-8 zone, dropping between the lines to receive the ball before turning. He adjusts his body shape to evade pressure and drive forward efficiently. This positioning creates space for teammates. Transition Play Strong at timing late runs in counter-attacks, particularly during his time at Atlético Madrid. He exploits spaces behind defenders with dribbling bursts and incisive passes. Preferred Formations Most effective in systems like 4‑2‑3‑1, 4‑3‑3, or dual-striker setups (e.g., 4‑4‑2). Functions well as a second striker or central attacking midfielder, but is less suited to rigid 3‑4‑3 setups, which limit his creative freedom and require stricter positional discipline. Creativity & Dribbling Scores 3 dribbles per match; excels in close control, vision, and combining inside tight areas. Favours carrying the ball from deep to create space and tempo. |
| Key Strengths | Clinical Finishing & Early Shot Timing Known for scoring with one or two touches, Félix often strikes before defenders can react. His clean technique and ability to disguise shots make him highly efficient in goal-scoring zones. Intelligent Movement & Spatial Awareness Félix consistently scans the field, drops between lines, and moves into half-spaces to receive and create chances. He thrives on transitions by exploiting defensive gaps with well-timed runs. Creative Passing & Link-Up Play He excels at short passing combinations, through balls, and link-up play—especially between the lines in the final third—integrating fluidly with midfielders and forwards in build-up phases. |
| Key Weaknesses | Limited use of his weaker right foot Félix heavily prefers his left, making many through-play and shooting decisions sub-optimal when forced onto his weaker side. This limits unpredictability and reduces his effectiveness when inverted. The lack of ambidexterity hampers adaptability in tight transitions. Defensive inconsistency / poor off‑ball work Frequently criticized for minimal pressing intensity and lack of recovery runs. Under Simeone’s Atlético, he was often withdrawn early or substituted because his defensive effort didn’t meet the coach’s high demands. He often “jogs instead of sprints” when possession is lost. Injury susceptibility & injury-disrupted rhythm Missed multiple matches due to injuries at Atlético, including a serious hamstring injury in April 2021 that sidelined him for weeks. His rhythm and form have been repeatedly disrupted, preventing sustained performance momentum. |
Injuries & Suspensions | |
| Ankle Sprain | Date / Season Oct–Nov 2019 Details & Impact Sustained a sprained ankle in La Liga match against Valencia; sidelined almost one month, missing key league games. Out for approx. 30 days, missing around 5 La Liga matches. [!] |
| Knee Injury (surgery) | Date / Season May 2020 Details & Impact Picked up a knee injury requiring minor surgery after the UCL loss to Leipzig. Out for 3 weeks, missing 3 matches. [!] |
| COVID‑19 (positive test) | Date / Season Feb 2021 Details & Impact Tested positive for COVID-19. Missed 10–14 days, including 1 La Liga match during isolation. [!] |
| Suspension (Red Card) | Date / Season Jan 12, 2023 Details & Impact Sent off on Chelsea debut vs Fulham for dangerous tackle. Suspended for 3 Premier League games, lasting 2 weeks. [!] |
Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 10 November 1999 |
| Age (as of 2025) | 25 years |
| Zodiac sign | Scorpio |
| Nationality | Portuguese |
| Place of Birth | Viseu, Portugal |
| Religion | Christian |
| Social Media | — Instagram — X (formerly Twitter) — TikTok |
Relationship & More | |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Girlfriend | Ex‑Partner Dated Portuguese model and actress Margarida Corceiro from around 2019. They were together through his Atlético and Chelsea moves but officially separated in May–June 2023, as confirmed by her social media announcement. [!]  Reported New Partner (2025) As of 2025, Félix has been linked publicly to Valentina Rueda Vélez, a Colombian model and reality TV personality known from Netflix’s Too Hot to Handle. They were seen together in Miami, suggesting a personal connection post‐breakup. [!]  |
Family | |
| Parents | Father Carlos Sequeira – Carlos is a physical education teacher and former youth-level professional footballer in Portugal. He coached João during his earliest years (ages 7–8) at Os Pestinhas and frequently drove him to FC Porto academy sessions from Viseu. [!] Mother Carla Félix – Carla is also a teacher. Alongside Carlos, she prioritized João’s academic learning alongside football commitments. She supported his education and personal balance, managing logistics and ensuring emotional stability during moves from Viseu to Lisbon and abroad.  |
| Brother | Hugo Félix – João’s younger brother Hugo is also a promising footballer in Benfica’s youth ranks. Hugo is of Brazilian–Portuguese descent like João and is seen as continuing the family’s football legacy. [!] |
Financial Profile & Career Contracts | |
| Market Value Trend | • Peak €100m in 2021 (while at Atlético Madrid); value later declined to around €25m by mid-2025, and currently listed at €20m at Al‑Nassr according to transfermarkt. |
| Transfer History & Fees | • Jul 2019: Benfica → Atlético Madrid — €126m (initial €30m + €96m in installments) [record for club/teenager] • Aug 2024: Atlético → Chelsea — €52m + €5m add-ons, including Conor Gallagher exchange • Jul 2025: Chelsea → Al‑Nassr — €30m + add-ons to €50m. [!] |
| Contract Durations | • Signed 7-year deal at Atlético Madrid in 2019 (until 2026) • Joined Chelsea on a 7-year contract in August 2024 (until 2031) • Signed a 2-year contract with Al‑Nassr in July 2025 (until 2027) |
| Salary Estimates | • At Atlético Madrid: approx. $3.9m/year (€3.6 M) as reported by Forbes in 2019 • Barcelona loan: rose to €4m/year (2023) • Reported Saudi wage at Al‑Nassr: €350,000/week (€17.5m/year) |
| Estimated Net Worth | Most estimates range between USD $20–25m (2025). Figures vary, but consistent across Celebrity Net Worth, Sports Buddy, and NetWorths.io listings. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much was João Félix sold to Al‑Nassr?
Reported €30M initial fee (£26.2M), with up to €20M in add‑ons—total potential value €50M (£43.7M). Signed a two-year contract.
Why did João Félix leave Chelsea?
He left Chelsea due to limited game time and underwhelming impact, especially under manager Enzo Maresca. Chelsea agreed the transfer to recoup investment and free up their wage bill.
How much did Chelsea pay for João Félix?
Chelsea signed João Félix permanently in August 2024 for £42 million upfront, plus £4.3 million in potential add-ons, on a seven-year deal. He had previously joined Chelsea on a six-month loan in early 2023.
Where did João Félix play before joining Chelsea?
Progressed through Benfica’s youth and first team until 2019; then joined Atlético Madrid from 2019 to 2023 before his first Chelsea loan in Jan 2023.
What club trophies has João Félix won?
Benfica – Primeira Liga (2018–19); Atlético Madrid – La Liga (2020–21); Chelsea – UEFA Europa Conference League (2024–25); Portugal – UEFA Nations League (2019).